True-motion connecting rod



May 7, 1940. F. P. SOLLINGER TRUE-MOTION CONNECTING ROD Filed Sept. 2,1939 INVENTOR ERDIN PSOLLINGZ'J? BY 4 a ATTORNEY Patented May 7, 1940 I2,199,655

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,199,655 TRUE-MOTION CONNECTING RODFerdinand P. Sollinger, Paterson, N. J assignor to Wright AeronauticalCorporation, a corporation of New York Application September 2,1939,Serial No. 293,211

Claims. (Cl. 74-580) This invention relates to radial engine oontheslippers of adjacent rods may lie in overlapnecting rods, and has for aprincipal object the ping relation to avoid interference therebetween.provision of a true-motion connecting rod sys- The relatively longmoment arm afforded by the tem in which all rods articulate about thecrankslippers 26 is effective in stabilizing the rod i pin center.against tipping on the pin 23 and, as will be 5 A further object is toprovidearod system in apparent, the substantial arcuate embracementwhicheach rod has a pair of articulated main of the slipper around thecrankpin contributes to bearing slippers engaging annularly grooved thisnon-tipping effect. It is known that in the members free to rotate uponthe crankpin, the prior art angled overlapping slippers have beenmembers being further provided with a track used, but their function inthe prior art struc- 10 engaged by stabilizing slippers on the rods, theture is to sustain the primary explosion loads slippers being sodisposed as to have a substantial imposed on the system rather thanmerely to arcuate embracement of the crank pin and lying stabilize therod against tipping. The articuin overlapping relationship with respectto the lated bearing shoes 24 are capable of slight angustabilizingslippers of adjacent connecting rods. lation with respect to the rods bywhich they 15 Further objects will be apparent after reading are endowedwith greatly augmented load capacthe annexed description in connectionwith the ity due to the improved lubrication allowed by drawing, inwhich: shoe tilting after the manner of Michell and Fig. 1 is an endview of the rod system showing Kingsbury thrust bearing principles.Accordthe crankpin in section, comprising a section on ingly, thecombination of the articulated bearing 20 the line I-I of Fig. 2; andshoes with the stabilizing slippers 26 affords an Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section through the rod improved rod construction free fromthe objecsystem comprising a section on the line 2-2 of tions of theprior art structures whose lubrica- Fig, 1. tion was difficult and whosebearing load distri- A crankshaft is shown at I0 having the usual butionon account of elongated load-carrying 25 cheek II carrying a crankpin I2supported at its slippers was faulty. rearward end by a rear crankcheekI3 clamped The rod system of this invention is adapted at I4 to the pinin the usual manner. Upon the for nine-cylinder rod systems as shown, orfor crankpin are journaled similar opposed members any number of rods.If the number of rods be I5 having opposed annular grooves I6 definingless, such as seven, the thickness of the slippers 30 inwardly facingand outwardly facing tracks I! 26 may be proportionately increased,whereas if and I8, and defining an inner, outwardly facing the number ofrods is increased, the thickness track IS. The annular members I5 arecarried and angulation of the slippers 26 would be on a bearing 20embracing the crankpin and are adjusted accordingly to allow of freerelative held in proper axial relation by the assembly of angulation ofthe rods as dictated by engine 35 the rear cheek I3 upon the crankpin.dimensions. In normal operation, the annular Between the members I5 aredisposed a plumembers I5 will rotate together with respect to rality ofidentical connecting rods having shanks the crankpin, while the bearingsurfaces between 22 from which project stub pins 23 on'either side theshoes 24 and their tracks I1 and I8, and of thereof, these stub pinslying within the grooves the slippers 26 with respect to the track I9,will 40 I6 and having bearing slippers 24 articulated oscillate relativeto each other according to the thereon for engagement at their outer andinner relative angulation of the connecting rods during surfaces withthetracks I I and I8. These slipoperation. Alternatively, the members I5could pers 24 sustain the main bearing loading, and be locked to thecrankpin with all relative motion have such arcuate embracement as toallow of taking place between the rod shoes and slippers 45 relativeangulation of adjacent connecting rods and the tracks on the members I5.in accordance with the number of rods used and While I have described myinvention in detail the general dimensions of the engine in which the inits present preferred embodiment, it will be system is used. Tostabilize the rods from any obvious to those skilled in the art, afterunderappreciable angulation about the axes of the pins standing myinvention, that various changes and 50 23, each is provided with anintegral stabilizing modifications may be made therein without slipper26 comprising a fork embracing substandeparting from the spirit or scopethereof. I aim tially one-half of the crankpin and bearing upon in theappended claims to cover all such modificathe track IS. The slippers 25are tilted from the tions and changes.

5 plane of rotation and are sufiiciently thin so that I claim as myinvention: a

1. In a connecting rod system, a crankpin having opposed annularlygrooved members thereon,

a plurality of similar connecting rods each having substantiallycrescent-shaped inner end portions embracing substantially one-half ofthe crankpin, said inner end portions being thin and tilted from theplane of rotation so that the portions of adjacent rods overlap oneanother, pin stubs on the opposite sides of each rod opposite saidannular grooves, and segmental bearing blocks carried on said pin stubsand engaging within said grooves.

2. In a connecting rod system, a crankpin having opposed annularlygrooved members thereon, a plurality of at least seven similarconnecting rods each provided with opposed stub pins, segmental bearingblocks on respective pins engaged with the opposed grooves of saidannular mem-- bers, and a stabilizing yoke on each rod comprisingprojections extending from the rod inner end around a portion of thecrankpin, said extensions being acutely angled to the plane of rotationso that yokes of adjacent rods overlap one another.

3. In a radial connecting rod system on a crankpin wherein each similarrod is articulately connected to bearing shoes engaged with crankpintracks, means to stabilize the rods to a radial attitude comprising aforked inner end integral with each rod and embracing the crankpin, allsaid forked ends being similarly tilted from the plane of rotation toafford overlap of the forked ends of adjacent rods.

4. In a radial connecting rod system, a crankpin having opposed membersin which are formed opposed annular tracks, a plurality of similar rodseach having bearing shoes articulately mounted thereon and engaging saidtracks, and means to stabilize the rods to a radial attitude relative tothe crankpin comprising a crankpin-embracing fork integral with theinner end of each rod, said forks being tilted from the plane ofrotation to allow of overlap of the forks of adjacent rods duringoperation.

5. In a radial connecting rod system, a crankpin having opposed membersin which are formed opposed annular tracks, a plurality of similar rodseach having bearing shoes articulately mounted thereon and engaging saidtracks, and means to stabilize the rods to a radial attitude relative tothe crankpin comprising a crankpin-embracing fork integral with theinner end of each rod, said forks being tilted from the plane ofrotation to allow of overlap of the forks of adjacent rods duringoperation.

FERDINAND P. SOLLINGER.

